file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
GARFIELD, NJ – A quiet Saturday afternoon in a Bergen County neighborhood turned into a scene of chaos on February 21, as a “swatting” hoax involving claims of a double homicide and a gasoline-soaked crime scene forced residents into lockdown.
Continue reading “I Shot My Mom”: Terrifying Garfield Swatting Hoax Triggers Massive SWAT Response
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GARFIELD, NJ — Parents and students at two Bergen County schools faced a tense Thursday morning after reports of “gunshots” forced campuses into immediate lockdown. However, Garfield Police have confirmed that the alarming sounds were not gunfire, but rather a noise-deterrent device used by a nearby business.
Continue reading Panic to Peace: Industrial Noise Device Revealed as Cause of Garfield School Scare
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Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 37-year-old ANDREW G. MAURER of Garfield, NJ, on the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
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Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the sentencing term handed down in Bergen County Superior Court on Monday, October 20, 2025, against 32-year-old JUHAAN HAMMOND of Garfield, NJ in connection with charges filed during a 2023 strict liability drug overdose death investigation.
Continue reading Garfield Drug Dealer Charged in Overdose Death
Out of the Shadows: NJ Mayor Moves Christopher Columbus Statue to Park’s Front Archway to ‘Honor its Roots’
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Garfield NJ, A Short, but Symbolic, Voyage , A statue of Christopher Columbus in Garfield, New Jersey, recently embarked on a far shorter voyage than its namesake, moving just a few hundred feet within the park named in his honor. On October 6th, local officials oversaw the relocation of the monument to a much more prominent spot at the park’s main entrance.
Continue reading New Spot: Christopher Columbus Statue Relocated in Garfield Park
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Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 33-year-old DARLENE GUZMAN of Garfield, NJ on charges of child abuse and assault. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
photos courtesy of Halina Strzepek
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information regarding an investigation into the four-alarm fire that occurred at 568 Palisade Avenue in Garfield, NJ on Sunday, October 5, 2025. This joint investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
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Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the apprehension of JONATHAN M. ORTIZ, of Garfield, NJ, who was previously a fugitive from justice, and an additional charge filed against 20-year-old MIKHI MADDOX ODUM of Garfield, NJ. Both men are in custody and facing several charges each in relation to a shooting that occurred in Garfield, NJ on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The additional charge and the apprehension of the second defendant are the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
Continue reading Second Suspect Apprehended in Garfield Shooting
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, in a bold move that’s shaking up New Jersey politics, Garfield Mayor Everett Garnto announced on September 4, 2025, that he’s leaving the Democratic Party to join the Republicans—and endorsing GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli. The dramatic event in Garfield, attended by heavyweights like state Sen. Holly Schepisi and Bergen County Republican Party Chairman Jack DeLorenzo, highlights Garnto’s shift and Ciattarelli’s growing momentum. Here’s why this cross-party endorsement and Bergen County’s role could shape the 2025 NJ governor’s race.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 20-year-old MIKHI MADDOX ODUM of Garfield, NJ; and criminal charges filed against 20-year-old JONATHAN M. ORTIZ of Garfield, NJ, in relation to a shooting that occurred in Garfield on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. These charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
Continue reading One Shooter Remains At large ,Two Men Charged in Shooting Investigation in Garfield
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of GASTON NAVARRO, 40, of Paterson, NJ on charges of strict liability for drug-induced death and drug distribution. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 60-year-old TROY R. TAYLOR of Hackensack, NJ on charges of aggravated arson, arson, failure to control or report a fire, theft of a motor vehicle, and criminal mischief. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
Continue reading Man Snags Car Keys Off Garfield Bar, Then Torches Stolen Ride
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 32-year-old CHRISTOPHER B. BENTOS of Garfield, NJ on the charges of distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
Continue reading Garfield Man Charged Distribution of Child Porn
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
GARFIELD, NJ — The beloved New Jersey-based convenience store chain Wawa is locked in a legal battle with Garfield city officials over a proposed ordinance that would prohibit retail businesses from operating between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. — effectively ending Wawa’s 24-hour service at its Jewell Street location.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Garfield NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced charges against two 18-year-old Bergen County men, both of whom were 17 years old at the time of the incident. These charges have been filed as a juvenile delinquency matter stemming from an armed robbery in Garfield, NJ, following a nearly year-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
Continue reading Two Garfield Teens Charged with Armed Robbery
